Electerik Posted January 19, 2011 Share Posted January 19, 2011 Don't know if anyone had seen this, and I didn't see it posted, but here is a new "helper" application that will generate a poll for you based on drag and drop functions: http://www.wardleystunnels.org/hawker/ Just used it, and found it very helpful. I've voted in the past, but I tend to start from scratch each year so I'm not just voting for things out of habit. Anyway, my top 3 this year are all in Indiana. Voyage, Cornball, Raven. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
downunder Posted January 20, 2011 Share Posted January 20, 2011 I sent my ballot in, Balder at number 1 and El Toro at 2. I had Phoenix and Boulder Dash after that but those 4 could easily swap places. Fave steel (SROS - SFNE) came in at #5. I still pinch myself about riding Balder - tons of El Toro like airtime with no stapling. I'll have to give T-Express a go one of these days, if that silly bugger in the north , Kim Jong Ill, doesn't blow it up. Here's sections of my ballot with comments in some cases: Top 25 1. Balder Liseberg 2. El Toro SFGAd 3. Phoenix Knoebel's ---> not a coaster but a near death experience, unbelievable. 4. Boulder Dash Lake Compounce ----> please don't trim it, please don't trim it.... 5. My Favorite Steel Anypark Anywhere 6. Ravine Flyer II Waldameer ----> based on the crazed, ride the lightning ERT session in 2008 7. Hades Mount Olympus ------> based on great night rides in 2007 8. Thunderhead Dollywood 9. Raven Holiday World 10. Cornball Express Indiana Beach 11. Rampage Alabama Adventure 12. The Voyage Holiday World -----> based on very average rides in 2007 13. Lightning Racer - L Hersheypark 14. Lightning Racer - T Hersheypark 15. Kentucky Rumbler Beech Bend 16. Thunderbird PowerPark ---> good luck getting night rides, I never saw the sun go down 17. Silver Comet Martin's Fantasy Is. 18. Viper SFGAm ----> Pleasant surprise, more airtime than Caged Bull in 2007. 19. Avalanche Timber Falls 20. Rutschebanen Tivoli Gardens 21. Comet Hersheypark ----> had some sensational night rides in 2008, and smooth as schwarzkopf 22. Rutschebanen Bakken ----> my first Alvey operated coaster 23. Cyclops Mount Olympus ----> bring your ID, has anyone under 18 been stopped from riding? 24. Thunderbolt Kennywood 25. Jack Rabbit Kennywood New To Me in 2010 39. Joris en de Draak W de Efteling ---> perfect for a park like Efteling. 40. Joris en de Draak V de Efteling 59. Gwazi-Lion Busch Gardens-Tampa ----> pre new trains, very painful 80. Robin Hood Walibi World ----> Robin Wood not good, forward jolts as well as jackhammering. Simply The Worst 82. Racer Kings Island ----> mainly based on forwards ride, backwards was much less painful 83. Predator Darien Lake ----> this could make breast implants burst 84. Wildcat Lake Compounce ----> it ran like the wheels were square 85. The Grizzly Kings Dominion ----> major a$$ pounding in the woods 86. Hurler Carowinds ----> should be called "Hurter" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spaceace12 Posted January 20, 2011 Share Posted January 20, 2011 My ballot RANK THE FOLLOWING RIDING SENSATIONS <-LEAVE THIS LINE AS ISAbrupt Airtime_____________________________,y,y,1 Floating Airtime___________________________,y,y,3 Lateral Forces_____________________________,y,y,4 Out of Control Feeling/Directional Changes_,y,y,2 Positive G's/Loops_________________________,y,y,6 Sensation of Speed_________________________,y,y,5 COASTER NAME PARK LOC <--Please leave this The Voyage Holiday World IN,y,y,1 My Favorite Steel Anypark Anywhere **,y,n,2 Raven Holiday World IN,y,y,3 Cornball Express Indiana Beach IN,y,y,4 The Legend Holiday World IN,y,y,5 Lost Coaster of SM Indiana Beach IN,y,y,6 The Beast Kings Island OH,y,y,7 Evel Knievel Six Flags St Louis MO,y,n,8 Hoosier Hurricane Indiana Beach IN,y,y,9 Screamin' Eagle Six Flags St Louis MO,y,n,10 Gwazi-Tiger Busch Gardens-Tampa FL,y,n,11 Triple Hurricane(S) Cypress Gardens FL,y,n,12 Tornado Stricker's Grove OH,y,n,13 Teddy Bear Stricker's Grove OH,y,n,14 Fairly Odd Coaster Kings Island OH,y,n,15 Racer Kings Island OH,y,n,16 The Boss Six Flags St Louis MO,y,n,17 Thunder Run Kentucky Kingdom KY,y,n,18 Twisted Twins-L (S) Kentucky Kingdom KY,y,n,19 Son of Beast (SBNO) Kings Island OH,y,n,20 Voyage is still tops......unless a miracle happens, I don't see this changing for a long time (the post rain storm ERT keeps it there). Diamond Back would be the steel (DB night rides were awesome). SoB deserves the last spot on my ballot with the KK coasters coming in not far behind. Beast moved up a bunch, I actually loved Beast this year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ConleyKE Posted January 20, 2011 Share Posted January 20, 2011 And here's another! Not much has changed for me as compared to last year's ballot, as Kennywood was my only new park. My Favorite Steel Anypark Anywhere **,y,y,1 (Maverick) El Toro SFGAd NJ,y,n,2 The Voyage Holiday World IN,y,n,3 Thunderhead Dollywood TN,y,n,4 Raven Holiday World IN,y,n,5 The Beast Kings Island OH,y,y,6 Kentucky Rumbler Beech Bend KY,y,n,7 Viper SFGAm IL,y,n,8 The Legend Holiday World IN,y,n,9 The Boss Six Flags St Louis MO,y,n,10 Blue Streak Cedar Point OH,y,y,11 Racer Kings Island OH,y,y,12 Jack Rabbit Kennywood PA,y,y,13 American Eagle SFGAm IL,y,n,14 Screamin' Eagle Six Flags St Louis MO,y,n,15 Thunderbolt Kennywood PA,y,y,16 Racer Kennywood PA,y,y,17 Mean Streak Cedar Point OH,y,y,18 Thunder Run Kentucky Kingdom KY,y,n,19 Son of Beast (SBNO) Kings Island OH,y,n,20 Rolling Thunder SFGAd NJ,y,n,21 Twisted Twins-S (S) Kentucky Kingdom KY,y,n,22 Twisted Twins-L (S) Kentucky Kingdom KY,y,n,23 Fairly Odd Coaster Kings Island OH,y,n,24 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alpengeist04 Posted January 20, 2011 Share Posted January 20, 2011 After finishing my list, here's my top 5 and bottom 5. Top 5: 1. El Toro 2. Phoenix 3. Boulder Dash 4. Ravine Flyer II 5. Thunderhead Bottom 5: Rolling Thunder Grizzly (CGA) Wildcat (Lake Compounce) GASM (SFOG) Predator (Darien Lake) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mechanic Posted January 21, 2011 Share Posted January 21, 2011 If the sampling here is any indication, CGA's Grizzly may finally give up its stranglehold on dead last. Unfortunately, that's still where it falls on my ridiculously short list of wooden coaters. I don't rate it last to be mean. That's just my honest opinion based on the few woodies that I've ridden. However, I will say that it was at least running smoothly last season. The retracking cured the roughness even if it didn't help the mostly snooze inducing layout. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Knotts Posted January 21, 2011 Share Posted January 21, 2011 ^ Agreed. It also looks at least to me, that Boulder Dash is going to rank remarkably high (perhaps even #1), standing as a LOUD testament to what great care and upkeep can do for a decade old woodie. Cedar Fair take note please! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cal1br3tto Posted January 21, 2011 Share Posted January 21, 2011 Grizzly didn't earn last place from me this year, for once. It wasn't unseated by some terrible death-machine, but rather by the modest-by-design Pegasus (Mt. Olympus) and Little Dipper (SFGAm). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
downunder Posted January 21, 2011 Share Posted January 21, 2011 (edited) ^So you rate lack of thrills in a coaster lower than one's that cause soul crushing pain? Pegasus is great for jet lag, very sleep inducing. Edited January 21, 2011 by downunder Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cfc Posted January 21, 2011 Share Posted January 21, 2011 I haven't ridden Grizzly at CGA in years, but I recall it as being boring, not rough. Here's my top ten: 1. Balder (Liseberg) 2. El Toro (SFGAd) 3. Colossos (Heide Park) 4. My Favorite Steel (Expedition GeForce, Holiday Park) 5. Viper (SFGAm) 6. Raven (Holiday World) 7. Phoenix (Knoebel's) 8. Avalanche (Timber Falls) 9. Thunderhead (Dollywood) 10. Troy (Toverland) And my not-so-illustrious bottom five: 86. Hades (Mount Olympus) 87. GhostRider (Knott's Berry Farm) 88. Son of Beast (SBNO, Kings Island) 89. The Bandit (Movie Park) 90. Anaconda (Walygator Parc) I don't think any ride could possibly take the last spot from Anaconda (or the second-to-last from Bandit). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cal1br3tto Posted January 21, 2011 Share Posted January 21, 2011 ^So you rate lack of thrills in a coaster lower than one's that cause soul crushing pain? Exactly! No offense intended to Little Dipper, of course. Maybe to Pegasus, though... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
downunder Posted January 21, 2011 Share Posted January 21, 2011 (edited) ^So you rate lack of thrills in a coaster lower than one's that cause soul crushing pain? Exactly! No offense intended to Little Dipper, of course. Maybe to Pegasus, though... I'm always torn on that point, do I rate a coaster that has a lift hill as high as my waist over a much larger coaster that sucks away my will to live. Generally, I say "would I rather ride this coaster over this one if they were the only two coasters in the world" but an element of spite comes in when major bodily harm has been inflicted. While I reflect on that, I think the most punishing moment ever on a coaster was The Beast in 2007, mid-morning, back-row. I thought my rib cage was going to shatter on that drop and turn through the shed after the second lift hill. Edited January 21, 2011 by downunder Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FeelTheFORCE Posted January 21, 2011 Share Posted January 21, 2011 Woo! My first submission ever! Here are my top ten. 1. El Toro 2. Voyage 3. Ravine Flyer II 4. Thunderbolt 5. Jack Rabbit 6. Legend 7. Blue Streak (CLP) 8. Lightning Racer - L 9. Lightning Racer - T 10. Tremors Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ginzo Posted January 21, 2011 Share Posted January 21, 2011 86. Hades (Mount Olympus) This is a serious bummer. Hades was great when we rode it in 2006. I guess there's no rush to get back to the Dells now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
downunder Posted January 21, 2011 Share Posted January 21, 2011 ^I had amazing back-row night rides on Hades in 2007 but I haven't ridden it since, though I have no idea if I'll ever get back to the Dells. Ring-ring "Hello Rocky Mountain Coasters how may I help you?" The candidate list grows... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cfc Posted January 21, 2011 Share Posted January 21, 2011 86. Hades (Mount Olympus) This is a serious bummer. Hades was great when we rode it in 2006. I guess there's no rush to get back to the Dells now. Avalanche (or Hellcat) is actually the best reason to go to the Dells. I liked the tunnel sections of Hades, but getting to them was pretty painful. Then again, there were some on the Mid-America Trip who really liked it--I just wasn't among them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PriestofSyrinx Posted January 21, 2011 Share Posted January 21, 2011 Heres mine! Yet it seems like my results might be a little skewed... And yes, Blue Streak is ahead of Raven LOCATION FOLLOWS THIS LINE (LEAVE THIS LINE AS IS) ~"Dacula, GA" NAME FOLLOWS THIS LINE (LEAVE THIS LINE AS IS IN Ballot) ~"Nick (PriestofSyrinx)" RANK THE FOLLOWING RIDING SENSATIONS <-LEAVE THIS LINE AS IS Abrupt Airtime_____________________________,y,y,2 Floating Airtime___________________________,y,y,4 Lateral Forces_____________________________,y,y,5 Out of Control Feeling/Directional Changes_,y,y,1 Positive G's/Loops_________________________,y,y,6 Sensation of Speed_________________________,y,y,3 COASTER NAME PARK LOC <--Please leave this My Favorite Steel Anypark Anywhere **,y,y,1 Maverick The Voyage Holiday World IN,y,n,2 Thunderhead Dollywood TN,y,n,3 Raven Holiday World IN,y,n,4 Blue Streak Cedar Point OH,y,y,5 Grt Am Scrm Mach SFoG GA,y,y,6 The Legend Holiday World IN,y,n,7 The Beast Kings Island OH,y,n,8 Thunder Road Carowinds NC,y,n,9 Racer Kings Island OH,y,n,10 Gwazi-Lion Busch Gardens-Tampa FL,y,n,11 Gwazi-Tiger Busch Gardens-Tampa FL,y,n,12 Cheetah Wild Adventures GA,y,n,13 Georgia Cyclone SFoG GA,y,y,14 Hurler Carowinds NC,y,n,15 Fairly Odd Coaster Kings Island OH,y,n,16 Fairly Odd Coaster Carowinds NC,y,n,17 Mean Streak Cedar Point OH,y,y,18 Son of Beast (SBNO) Kings Island OH,y,n,19 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mechanic Posted January 21, 2011 Share Posted January 21, 2011 I haven't ridden Grizzly at CGA in years, but I recall it as being boring, not rough. It had become fairly rough prior to the recent retracking. In all fairness to the ride, and Robb pointed this out to those in attendance at BAB last year, it really isn't the "worst" woodie that most people have ridden. In my particular case however, even with it running smooth, it's just so lackluster that I can't rate it higher than last due to my small number (9) of wooden coasters. The first and second drops are semi-fun if you're toward the back of the train, but the "ten-minute-turnaround" in between them, and the rest of the generally uninspired layout, just make it unworthy of anything other than a courtesy ride. I'm quite certain there are worse coasters out there, I just haven't ridden them. Oddly enough (or not?) Grizzly has become fairly representative of CGA as a whole: You can try all you want, but you can't polish a turd. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ginzo Posted January 21, 2011 Share Posted January 21, 2011 Avalanche (or Hellcat) is actually the best reason to go to the Dells. I liked the tunnel sections of Hades, but getting to them was pretty painful. I preferred Avalanche as well. I can't imagine Hades making anyone's top bottom 5 based on how it ran when we rode it. It was clearly a top 10 or 20 woodie at that time. Based on the reports of several people, it sounds like Mt. O has bitten off more maintenance than they can chew with this ride. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erik Johnson Posted January 21, 2011 Share Posted January 21, 2011 (edited) Turned mine in. Here is my top 15....as well as my bottom 3. Top 15 Phoenix Knoebel's PA,y,y,1 Boulder Dash Lake Compounce CT,y,n,2 El Toro SFGAd NJ,y,n,3 My Favorite Steel Anypark Anywhere **,y,n,4 (Superman: ROS (AKA Bizzaro) SFNE) Ravine Flyer II Waldameer PA,y,n,5 Raven Holiday World IN,y,n,6 The Voyage Holiday World IN,y,n,7 Kentucky Rumbler Beech Bend KY,y,n,8 Avalanche Timber Falls WI,y,n,9 Terminator Salvatio S. F. Magic Mountain CA,y,y,10 Cornball Express Indiana Beach IN,y,n,11 Hades Mount Olympus WI,y,n,12 Georgia Cyclone SFoG GA,y,y,13 Silver Comet Martin's Fantasy Is. NY,y,n,14 The Beast Kings Island OH,y,n,15 Bottom 3: Boardwalk Bullet Kemah Boardwalk TX,y,y,83 Wilde Beast Canada's Wonderland ON,y,n,84 Son of Beast (SBNO) Kings Island OH,y,y,85 Edited January 21, 2011 by Erik Johnson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cfc Posted January 21, 2011 Share Posted January 21, 2011 (edited) Avalanche (or Hellcat) is actually the best reason to go to the Dells. I liked the tunnel sections of Hades, but getting to them was pretty painful. I preferred Avalanche as well. I can't imagine Hades making anyone's top bottom 5 based on how it ran when we rode it. It was clearly a top 10 or 20 woodie at that time. Based on the reports of several people, it sounds like Mt. O has bitten off more maintenance than they can chew with this ride. Precisely--it could be the old Ghostrider scenario all over again. But, as I said, there were some people on the trip who liked it. It's all a matter of taste. Edited January 21, 2011 by cfc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cal1br3tto Posted January 21, 2011 Share Posted January 21, 2011 I really liked HellCat, but I don't consider it my favorite in the Dells. I prefer Hades for its length and layout, and Cyclops for "THE drop". I also thought HellCat was quite the batterer in the back seat. While I rarely downgrade coasters based on roughness, it doesn't exactly increase my fondness for them... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
odene497 Posted January 21, 2011 Share Posted January 21, 2011 Hades would probably be in my top 5 if it was smoother. The airtime was ridiculous, and I was really surprised by all that goes on underground. But again, it was just "too" rough for me to want to ride it over and over, even though I regard it as a good ride. I would've liked a few more rides on Avalanche but the Skyscraper people were horrifically slow. Edit: It's Hellcat now? Unaware. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cfc Posted January 21, 2011 Share Posted January 21, 2011 ^Presenting the Three Faces of Timber Falls' coaster (from TPR's 2010 Mid-America Trip): Just pick your favorite one, I guess. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meteornotes Posted January 21, 2011 Share Posted January 21, 2011 Ballot submitted. Top ten didn't change much at all. I can't see anything breaking into the top five especially, unless another Intamin wooden coaster is built somewhere. Two fanboy favorites are WAY down the list, due to the horrible painful rides they delivered. Pain and coasters should not ever go together... dt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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